pleasant meanes to perswade and exhort the Duke to come to the Court But the Duke as wilie as the King mistrusting the faire flattering words and the gay promises to him so suddenly without any cause offered knowing the craftie castes of K. Richards bow which in divers affaires before times hee had seene practised required the King to pardon him excusing himselfe that hee was so diseased in his stomacke that hee could scarce take any refection or rest King Richard not being content with this excuse would in no wise admit the same but incontinent directed to the Duke other letters of a more rougher and hautie sort not without minatorie termes and checking words commanding him all excuses set apart to repaire without any delay to his royall presence The Duke made to the messenger a determinate answer that he would not come to his mortall enemie whom hee neither loved nor favored and immediately prepared open warre against him and perswaded all his complices and partakers that every man should in his quarter with all diligence raise up the people and make a commotion And by this meanes almost in one moment Thomas Marques Dorcet came out of Sanctuary where hee since the beginning of Richards dayes had continued whose life by the onely helpe of sir Thomas Lovel Esquier was preserved from all danger and perill in this troublous world gathered together a great band of men in Yorkeshire Sir Edward Courtney and Peter his brother Bishop of Exeter raised another army in Devonshire and Cornewall In Kent Richard Gilford and other Gentlemen collected a great company of Souldiers and openly began Warre But King Richard which in the meane time had gotten together a great strength and puissaunce thinking it not most for his part beneficiall to disperse and divide his Armie into small branches and particularly to persecute any one of the conjuration by himselfe determined all other being set aside with his whole puissaunce to set on the chiefe head which was the Duke of Buckingham And so removing from London hee tooke his journey toward Salsbury to the intent that in his journey hee might set on the Dukes armie if he might know him in any place encamped or in order of Battaile arayed The King was scarse two dayes journey from Salisbury when the Duke of Buckingham accompanied with a great power of wilde Welshmen whom he being a man of that courage and sharpe speech in manner against their willes had rather thereto enforced compelled by Lordly and straite commandement then by liberall wages and gentle reteynour which thing was the very occasion why they left him desolate and cowardly forsooke him The Duke with all his power marched through the forrest of Deanâ— intending to have passed the river Severne at Gloucester and there to have joyned in army with the Courtneys and other Westerne men of his confederacy and affinity which if hee had done no doubt but K. Richard had beene in great jeopardy either of privation of his Realme or losse of his life or both But see the chance before he could attaine to Severne side by force of continuall raine and moysture the river rose so high that it overflowed all the countrey adjoyning insomuch that men were drowned in their beds houses with the extreme violence were overturned children were carried about the fields swimming in cradles beastes were drowned on hills which rage of water lasted continually tenne dayes insomuch that in the countrey adjoyning they call it to this day the great water or the Duke of Buckinghams great water By this inundation the passages were so closed that the Duke could not come over Severne to his complices nor they to him during the which time the Welshmen lingering idely without money victuals or wages sodainly scaled and departed and for all the Dukes faire promises menaces and enforcements they would in no wise either goe further or abide The Duke thus abandoned and left almost alone was of necessity compelled to fly and in his flight was with this sodaine misfortune marvelously disdained and being unprovided what counsell hee should take and what way he should follow like a man in despaire not knowing what to doe of very trust and confidence conveyed himself into the house of Humfrey Banister his servant besides Shrewesbury whom hee had tenderly brought up and whom he above all men loved favoured and trusted now not doubting but that in his extreme necessity hee should finde him faithfull secret and trusty intending there covertly to lurk till either he might raise againe a new army or else shortly to saile into Britaine to the Earle of Richmond But when it was knowne to his adherents which were ready to give battaile that his hoste was scaled and had left him almost alone and was fled and could not bee found they were sodainely amased and stricken with a sodain feare that every man like persons desperate shifted for himselfe and fled some went to Sanctuary and to solitarie places some fled by sea whereof the most part within a few dayes after arrived safely in the Dutchy of Britany Among which number were these persons Peter Courtney Bishop of Exeter and Sir Edmond Courtney his brother by King Henry the sevâ—nth after created Earle of Dâ—â—onshire Thomas Marquâ—s Dorcet Iohn Lord Welles Sir Iohn Burchier Sir Edmond Woodvile a valiant man in Armes brother to Queene Elizabeth Sir Rrbert Willoughby Sir Gyles Dabeney Sir Thomas Arundell Sir Iohn Cheney and his two brethren Sir William Barkeley Sir William Brandon and Thomas his brother Sir Richard Edgcombe all these for the most part being Knights and Iohn Halwell Edward Powninges a politike captaine At this very season Iohn Morton Bishop of Ely and Christopher Vrswicke Priest and another company of noble men sojourned in Flanders and by letters and messengers procured many enemies against King Richard Which using a vigilant eye and a quicke remembrance being newly come to Salisbury having perfect notice knowledge how the Duke was fled his complices intended to passe out of the Realme First he sent men of warre to all the next ports and passages to keepe straightly the sea coast so that no person should passe outward nor take land in the Realme without their assent and knowledge Secondly he made Proclamation that what person could shew and reveale where the Duke of Buckingham was should be highly rewarded if he were a bondman hee should be infranchised and set at libertie if he were of free bloud hee should have a generall pardon bee remunerate with a thousand poundes Furthermore because he understood by Thomas Hutton which as you have heard was newly returned out of Britaine that Francis Duke of Britaine not onely refused to keepe the Earle of Richmond as a prisoner at his contemplation and for his sake but also was ready to aide and succour the said Earle with men money and all things necessarie for his transporting into England Wherefore hee rigged and sent out shippes of warre well furnished
other of my allies and each of you with other either of kinred or affinity which is the very spirituall affinity and kinred in Christ as all partakers of the Sacraments of Christs Church The weight of which consanguinity if we did beare as would to God wee did then should wee more be moved to spirituall charity then to fleshly consanguinity Our Lord forbid that you love the worse together for the selfe-same cause that you ought to love the better and yet that hapneth for no where finde wee so deadly debate as amongst them which by nature and law most ought to agree together Such a Serpent is ambition and desire of vaine glory and soveraignty while amongst estates when he is once entred he creepeth forth so farre till with division and variance hee turneth all to mischiefe First longing to be next to the best afterward equall with the best and at the last chiefe and above the best Of which immoderate appetite of worship and the debate and dissention that grew thereby what losse what sorrow what trouble hath within these few yeeres growne within this Realme I pray God as well to forget as wee well remember which thing if I could as well have foreseene as I have with my more paine then pleasure proved by God his blessed Lady that was his common oath I would never have won the courtesies oâ— mens knees with the losse of so many heads But sith things passed cannot be called againe much more ought we to beware by what occasion we have taken so great hurt before that wee presently fall not into that occasion againe Now be these griefs pâ—ssed and all is quiet thanked bee God and likely well to prosper in wealthfull peace under your Cousins my children if God send them life and you love and concord Of which two things the lesse losse were they by whom although God did his pleasure yet should this Realme alwayes finde Kâ—ngs and peradventure as good Kings as they But if you amongst your selves in a childes Raigne fall at debate many a good man shall innocently perish and hee and you also ere this Land finde peace and quiet againe wherefore in these last words that ever I look to speak to you I exhort and require you all for the love that you have borne to mee and for the love that I have borne to you and for the love that our Lord beareth to us all From this time forward all griefes forgotten each of you love other which I verily trust you will if you any thing regard God or your Kings affinity or kindred this Realme your owne Country or your owne safety and wealth And therewithall the King for faintnesse no longer enduring to sit up layed him downe on his right side his face toward them And there was none present that could forbeare weeping but the Lords comforted him with as good words as they could and answered for the time as they thought should stand with his pleasure And there in his presence as by their words appeared each forgave other and joyned their hands together when as it after appeared by their deedes their hearts were farre asunder And so within a few dayes this Noble Prince deceased at Westminster the ninth day of April in the yeere of our Lord 1483. after that he had raigned 22. yeeres one month and eight dayes and was with great Funerall pompe conveiged to Windsore leaving behinde him two sons Edward the Prince of whom this story entreateth a childe of 13. yeeres of age Richard Duke of Yorke two yeeres yonger then the Prince and five daughters Elizabeth which by Gods Grace was married to King Henry the seventh and Mother to King Henry the 8. Cicile not so fortunate as faire first wedded to the Vicount Wâ—llâ—â— after to one Kyne and lived not in great wealth Bridâ—â—â—â—rofessed â—rofessed her selfe a close Nunne at Sâ—on Anne was marrieâ— to Lord Thomas Howard Earle of Surrâ—y and Duke of Norfolk Katherine the youngest daughter was married to Lord William Courtney sonne to the Eâ—rle of Devonshire which long time â—â—ssed in either fortune sometime in wealth after in adversity till the benignity of her Nephew King Henry the eighth brought her into a sure estate according to her degree and Progeny This King Edward was such a Prince of Governance and behaviour in the time of peace for in the time of warre each must bee others enemy that there was never any King in this Realme attaining the Crowne by warre and battaile so heartily beloved with the more substance of his people nor hee himselfe so specially favoured in any part of his life as at the time of his death which favour and affection yet after his death by the cruelty mischiefe and trouble of the tempestuous world that followed highly towards him more encreased At such time as he dyed the displeasure of those that bare him a grudge for King Henry the sixth his sake whom he deposed was well asswaged and in effect quenched within the space of 22. yeeres which is a great part of a mans life and some were reconciled and growne into his favour of the which he was never strange when it was with true heart demanded Hee was goodly of Personage and Princely to behold of heart couragious politicke in counsell and in adversity nothing abashed in prosperity rather joyfull then proud in peace just and mercifull in war sharpe and fierce in the Field bold and hardy and yet neverthelesse no farther then reason and policie would adventure whose warres whosoever circumspectly and advisedly considereth hee shall no lesse commend his wisedome and policie where he avoided them then his manhood where hee vanquished them Hee was of visage full-faced and lovely of body mighty strong and clean made with over-liberall and wanton dyet he waxed something corpulent and burly but neverthelesse not uncomely Hee was in youth greatly given to fleshly wantonnesse from the which health of body in great prosperity and fortune without an especiall grace hardly refraineth This fault little grieved his people for neither could any one mans pleasure stretch or extend to the displeasure of very many nor a multitude bee grieved by a private mans fantasie or voluptuousnesse when it was done without violence And in his latter dayes he left all wild dalliance and fell to gravity so that hee brought his Realme into a wealthy and prosperous estate all feare of outward enemies were cleerely extinguisheâ— and no warre was in hand nor none toward but such as no man looked for The people were toward their Prince not in a constrained feare but in a true loving and wilfull obedience among themselves and the Commons were in good peace The Lords whom hee knew at variance hee on his death bed as hee thought brought to good concord love and amity And a little before his death he had left gathering of money of his subjects which is the onely thing that draweth the hearts of English men from their Kings and Princes
to withstand his adversaries as ever he was But my sonne can deserve no Sanctuary you say and therefore hee can not have it forsooth the Lord Protector hath sent a goodly glose by the which that place that may desend a theefe may not save an innocent but he is in no danger nor hath no need thereof I would God hee had not Troweth the Protector I pray God he may prove a Protector rather then a destroyer whereunto his painted processe draweth that it is not honourable that the Duke bide here it were more comfortable to them both that he were with his Brother because the King lacketh a play-fellow yea bee sure I pray God send him better play-fellowes then him that maketh so high a matter upon such a trifling pretext as though there could none bee found to play with the King but that his Brother which hath no lust to play for sicknesse must come out of Sanctuary out of his safeguard to play with him as though that Princes so young as they be could not play without their Peeres or children could not play without their kindred with whom for the most part they agree much worse then with strangers But the childe you say cannot require the priviledge who told the Protector so Aske him and you shall heare him aske it and so shall hee if yee will Howbeit this is a strange matter suppose hee could not aske it and thinke he would not aske it and imagine he would aske to goe out if I say he shall not Note if I aske the priviledge for my selfe I say that hee that against my will taketh out him breaketh Sanctuary Serveth this liberty for my person onely or for my goods too you may not from hence take my Horse from me if I stale him not nor owe you nothing then followeth it that you may not take my childe from me hee is also my ward for as farre as my learned Councell sheweth me he hath nothing by descent holden by Knights service but by socage then the Law maketh me his guardian then may no man lawfully I suppose take my ward from mee out of this place without the breach of Sanctuary and if my priviledge could not serve him nor he aske it for himselfe yet sith the Law committeth to me the custody of him I may require it for him expect the Law give the Infant a guardian onely for his goods discharging him of the care and safe-keeping of his body for which onely both goods and lands serve Wherefore here intend I to keep him sith mans Law serveth the guardian to keepe the infant and the Law of Nature willeth the Mother to keep the child and Gods Law priviledgeth the Sanctuary and the Sanctuary priviledgeth my Sonne sith I feare to put him to the Protectors hands that hath his Brother already which is if both failed inheritor to the Crowne as heire Male as hee saith The cause of my feare no man hath to doe to examine and yet feare I no further then the Law feareth which as learned men tell mee forbiddeth every man the custody of them by whose death he may inherit lesse Land then a Kingdome I can say no more but whosoever hee be that breaketh this holy Sanctuary I pray God send him shortly need of Sanctuary when he may not come to it for I would not that my mortall enemy should be taken out of Sanctuary The Cardinall perceived that the Queene ever the longer the farther off and also that shee began to kindle and chafe and speak sore biting words against the Protector and such as hee neither beleeved and also was loth to heâ—re he said to her for a finall conclusion that hee would no more dispute the matter and if she were content to deliver the Duke to him and to the other Lords there present hee durst lay his owne body and soule both in pledge not onely for his surety but also for his estate and surely he knew nor suspected any cause but he might so doe but hee knew not all And further he said if shee would give him a resolute answer to the contrary hee would therewith depart incontinent and shift who so would with his businesse afterward for he never intended further to move her in the matter in the which shee thought that he and all other also save her selfe lacked either wit or dull truth Wit if they were so that they nothing could perceive what the Protector intended and if they should procure her sonne to be delivered into his hands in whom they should perceive towards the child any evill will intended then shee might thinke all the Councell both evill advised and of little fidelity to their Prince The Queene with these words stood in a great study and forasmuch as she saw the Lord Cardinall more readie to depart then the remnant and the Protector himselfe ready at hand so that shee verily thought that shee could not keepe him there but he should bee incontinent taken thence and to conveigh him elsewhere neither had shee time to serve her nor place determined nor persons appointed to conveigh him and so all things were unready when this message came so suddenly on her nothing lesse looking for then to have him out of Sanctuary which she knew now men to be set in all places about that hee could not be conveighed out untaken and party as shee thought it might fortune her feare to bee false so well shee knew it was either needlesse or bootlesse Wherefore if shee should needs goe from him shee deemed best to deliver him and especially of the Cardinals faith shee nothing doubting nor of some other Lords whom shee saw there which as she feared lest they might be deceived so well was she assured that they would not be corrupted then thought she that it would make them the more warily to looke to him and the more circumspectly to see his surety if shee with her owne hands betooke him them by trust and at the last she tooke the young Duke by the hand and said unto the Lords my Lord quoth shee and all my Lords neither am I so unwise to mistrust your wits nor so suspicious to mistrust your truths of the which thing I purpose to make such a proofe that if either of both lacked in you might turn both me to great sorrow the Realm to much harme and you to great reproach For loe here is quoth shee this Gentleman whom I doubt not but I could keepe safe if I would whatsoever any man say and I doubt not also but there be some abroad so deadly enemies unto my Bloud that if they knew where any of it lay in their owne body they would let it out wee have also experience that the desire of a Kingdome knoweth no kindred the Brother hath beene the Brothers bane and may the Nephewes be sure of the Uncle each of these children are others defence while they be asunder and each of their lives lyeth in others body keepe
my selfe have heard spoken and that upon great presumptions more times then once so againe by my ayde and favour hee of a Protectour was made a King and of a subject made a Governour at which time he promised mee upon his fidelitie laying his hand in mine at Baynards Castle that the two yong Princes should live and that hee would so provide for them and so maintaine them in honorable estate that I and all the Realme ought and should bee content But when he was once Crowned King and in full possession of the whole Realme he cast away his old conditions as the Adder doth his skinne verifying the old proverbe honours change manners as the Parish Priest remembreth not that he was ever Parish Clarke For when I my selfe sued to him for my part of the Earle of Hartfords lands which his brother King Edward wrongfully detyned and withheld from mee and also required to have the office of the high Constable ship of England as divers of my noble ancestors before this time have had and in long discent continued In this my first suite shewing his good minde towards me he did not onely first delay me and afterward deny me but gave me such unkind words with â—uch taunts and retaunts yea in manner checke and check mate to the uttermost proofe of my patience As though I had never furthered him but hindred him as though I had put him downe and not set him up yet al these ingratitudes undeserved unkindnesses I bare closely and suffer patiently and covertly remeÌ„bred outwardly dissembling that I inwardly thought and so with a painted countenance I passed the last summer in his last company not without many faire promises but without any good deedes But when I was credibly informed of the death of the two young innocents his owne naturall Nephewes contrary to his faith and promise to the which God bee my judge I never agreed nor condiscended O Lord how my veines panted how my body trembled and my heart inwardly grudged in so much that I so abhorred the sight and much more the company of him that I could no longer abide in his court except I should bee openly revenged The end whereof was doubtfull and so I fained a cause to depart and with a merry countenance and a dispightful heart I tooke my leave humbly of him hee thinking nothing lesse then that I was displeased and so returned to Brecknocke to you But in the journey as I returned whether it were by the inspiration of the holy Ghost or by Melancolous disposition I had divers and sundry imaginations how to deprive this unnaturall Vncle and bloody butcher from his royall seate and princely dignity First I fantasied that if I list to take upon me the Crowne and imperiall Scepter of the Realme now was the time fit and convenient For now was the way made plaine and the gate opened and occasion given which now neglected should peradventure never take such effect and conclusion For I saw hee was disdained of the Lords temporall execrate and accursed of the Lords spiritual detested of all gentlemen and despised of all the commonaltie So that I saw my chance as perfectly as I saw my owne Image in a glasse that there was no person if I had beene greedy to attempt the enterprise could nor should have won the ring or got the gole before me And on this point I rested in imagination secretly with my selfe two dayes at Teukesbury And from thence sojourning I mused thought it was not best nor convenient to take vpon me as a conquerour for then I knew that all men and especially the nobilitie would with all their power withstand me both for rescuing of possessions and tenours as also for subverting of the whole estate Lawes and Customes of the Realme Such a power hath a conquerour as you know well enough my Lord. But at the last in all this doubtfull case there sprang a new branch out of my head which surely I thought should have brought forth faire flowers but the sunne was so hot that they turned to dry weedes for I suddenly remembred that Lord Edmond Duke of Somerset my Grandfather was with King Henry the sixt in the second and third degrees from Iohn Duke of Lancaster lawfully begotten So that I thought sure my mother being eldest daughter to Duke Edmond that I was next to King Henry the sixt of the house of Lancastâ—r This title pleased well such as I made privie of my counsell but much more it encouraged my foolish desire and elevated my ambitious intent in so much that I clerely judged and in mine own minde was determinately resolved that I was indubitated heire of the house of Lancaster and thereupon concluded to make my first foundation and erect my new building But whether God so ordered or by fortune it so chanced while I was in a mase either to conclude sodainely on this title and to set it open amongst the common people or to keepe it secret a while see the chance as I rode betweene Worcester and Bridgnorth I encountered with the lady Margaret Countesse of Richmond now wife to the Lord Stanley which is the very daughter and sole heyre to Iohn Duke of Somerset my grandfathers elder brother Which was as cleane out of my minde as though I had never never seene her so that shee and her sonne the Earle of Richmond be both bulwarke and portcolice betweene and the gate to enter into the majesty royall and getting of the Crowne And when wee had communed a little concerning her sonne as I shall shew you after and were departed shee to our Lady of Worcester and I toward Shrewsbury I then new changed and in manner amased began to dispute with my selfe litle considering that thus my earnest was turned even to a tittle not woth esteeme Presently I imagined whether I were best to take upon me by the election of the nobilitie and commonaltie which me thought easie to be done the usurper King thus being in hatred and abhorred of this whole Realme or to take it by power which standeth in fortunes chance and difficile to bee atchieved and brought to passe Thus rumbling tossing in the waves of ambiguitie betweene the stone and sacrifice I considered first the office duty and paine of a King which surely thinke that no mortall man can justly and truely observe except hee bee called elected and specially appointed by God as King David and divers others have beene But further I remembred that if I once tooke on mee the Scepter and the governance of the Realme That of two extreame enemies I was daily sure but of one trusty friend which now adayes bee gone a pilgrimage I was neither assured nor credibly ascertained such is the worlds mutation for I manifestly perceived that the daughters of King Edward and their alies and friends which be no small number being both for his sake much beloved and also for the great injurie manifest tyranni done
her sonne made Reyghnold Bray her most faithfull servant cheife soliciter and privie procurer of this conspiracie giving him in charge secretly to invegle and attract such persons of nobility to joyne with her and to take her part as hee knew to bee ingenious faithfull diligent and of activity This Reighnold Bray within few daies brought unto his lure first of all taking of every person a solemne oath to be true and secret sir Gyles Daubeney sir Iohn Cheiney knight Richard Guylford and Thomas Raine Esquiors and divers others The Countesse of Richmond was not so diligent for her part but Queene Elizabeth was as vigilant on the other side and made friends and appointed Councellers to set forward and advance her businesse In the meane season the Countesse of Richmond tooke into her service Christopher Vrswicke an honest and a wise Priest and after an oath of him for to bee secretly taken and sworne shee uttered to him all her mind councell adhibiting to him the more confidence and truth that he all his life had favoured and taken part with King Henry the sixt and as a speciall jewell put to her service by sir Lewes her Physitian So the mother studious for the prosperitie of her sonne appointed this Christopher Vrsewicke to saile into Britaine to the Earle of Richmond and to declare and to demonster to him all pacts and agreements betweene her and the Queene agreed and concluded But sudenly shee remembring that the Duke of Buckingham was one of the first inventers and a secret founder of this enterprise determined to send some personage of more estimation then her chaplaine and so elected Hugh Conway esquire and sent him into with a great some of money to her son giving him charge to declare to Earle the great love especiall favour that the most part of the nobilitie of the Realme bare towards him the benevoleÌ„t minds which the whole commonaltie frankly offered liberally exhibited to him willing advising him not to neglect so good an occasion apparently offered but with all speede diligence to addict and settle his minde full intention how to returne home againe into England where hee was both wished and looked for giving him farther monition and counsell to take land and arrivall in the principalitie of Wales where hee should not doubt to find both aide comfort and friends Richard Guylford lest Hugh Conwey might fortune to bee taken or stopped at Plimmouth where he intended to take his navigation sent out of Kent Thomas Rame with the same instruction and both made such diligence and had such winde and weather the one by land from Calice and the other by water from Plimmouth that within lesse then an hower both arrived in the Duke of Britaines court and spake with the Earle of Richmond w ch from the death of K. Edward went at his pleasure and liberty and to him counted and manifested the cause and effect of their message and Embassage When the Earle had received this joyfull message which was the more pleasant because it was unlooked for hee rendred to Jesu his saviour his most humble and harty thankes being in firme credence and beleefe that things as hee with busie minde and laborious entent had wished and desired could never have taken any effect without the helpe and preferment of Almighty God And now being put in comfort of his long longing he did communicate and breake to the Duke of Brittaine all his secrets and privie messages which were to him declared advertizing him that hee was entred into a sure and steadfast hope to obtaine and get the Crowne and Kingdome of the Realme of England desiring him both of his good will and friendly helpe toward the achiving of his offered enterprise promising him when hee came to his intended purpose to render to him againe equall kindnesses and condigne gratulations Although the Duke before that day by Thomas Hutton Embassadour from King Richard had both by money and prayers been solicited and moved to put againe into safe custody the Earle of Richmond hee neverthelesse promised faithfully to aide him and his promises hee truely performed The third yeere WHerupon the Earle with all diligence sent into England againe Hugh Conwey and Thomas Rame which should declare his comming shortly into England to the intent that all the things which by counsell might bee for his purpose provided should be accelerate and hasted and that all things doubtfull should of his friends bee prudently foreseene in avoiding all engins and snares which King Richard had or might have set in disturbance of his purpose and hee in the meane season would make his abode still in Britaine till things necessary for his journey were prepared and brought in a readinesse In the meane season the Chiefetaynes of the conjuration in England began together many enterprises Some in convenient fortresses put strong garrisons Some kept armed men privily to the intent when they should have knowledge of the Earles landing they would beginne to stirre up the warre Others did secretly move and solicite the people to rise and make an insurrection Others amongst whom Iohn Morton Bishop of Ely then being in Flanders was chiefe by privie letters and cloked messâ—ngers did stirre and invite to this new conjunction all such which they certainely knew to have a rooted hatred or to beare a cankered malice towards King Richard and his proceedings Although this great enterprise were never so privily handled and so secretly amongst so circumspect persons treated compassed conveyed yet knowledge thereof came to the eares of K. Richard which with the sodaine chance was not a little moved and astonied First because hee had no host ready prepared and conscribed Secondarily hee knew not where to occurre and meete his enemies or whither to goe or where to tarrie Wherefore he determined to dissemble the matter as though hee knew nothing till hee had assembled his host and in the meane season either by the rumour of the common people or by the diligence of his exploratours and espialles to investigate â—earch out all the Councells determinations intents and compasses of his close adversaries or else by crafty policie to intercept and take some person of the same conjuration considering that there is no more secret nor hid especiall than that which lurketh in dissâ—mulation of knowledge and intelligence or is hidden in the name and shaddow of counterfeit humanitie and fained kindnesse And because hee knew the Duke of Buckingham to bee the chiefe head and aide of the conjuration he thought it most necessary to pluck him from that part either by faire promises or open warre Whereupon he addressed his loving letters to the Duke as full of mellifluous words humanitie familiaritie as the interior cogitation privie meaning was full of malice rancor and poyson giving farther in charge to the messenger that carried the letter to promise to the Duke on his behalfe golden hilles and silver rivers and with all gentle and
times more couragious to flye and escape then once to assault the brest of our strong and populous Armie Wherefore conâ—idering all these advantages expell out of your thoughts all doubts and avoid out of your mindes all feare and like valiant Champions advance forth your Standards and assay whether your enemies can decide and try the title of Battaile by dint of Sword Advance I say againe forward my Captaines in whom lacketh neither policie wisdome nor puissance Every one give but one sure stripe and surely the journey is ours What prevaileth a handfull to a whole Realme desiring you for the love that you beare to mee and the affection that you have to your native and naturall countrey and to the safeguard of your Prince and your selfe that you will this day take to you your accustomed courage and couragious spirits for the defence and safeguard of us all And as for me I assure you this day I will triumph by glorious victory or suffer death for immortall fame For they bee contemned and out of the palace of fame degraded dying without renowne which doe not as much preferre and exalt the perpetuall honour of their native Countrey as their owne mortall and transitory life Now Saint George to borrow let us set forward and remember well that I am he which shall with high advancements reward and preferre the valiant and hardy Champions and punish and torment the shamefull cowards and dreadfull dastards This exhortation encouraged all such as favoured him but such as were present more for dread then love kissed them openly whom they inwardly hated others sware outwardly to take part with such whose death they secretly compassed and inwardly imagined others promised to invade the Kings enemies which fled and fought with fierce courage against the King others stood still and looked on intending to take part with the victors and overcommers So was his people to him unsure and unfaithfull at his end as he was to his Nephewes untrue and unnaturall in his beginning When the Earle of Richmond knew by his fore-riders that the King was so neere embattailed hee rode about his Armie from ranke to ranke from wing to wing giving comfortable words to all men and that finished being armed at all peeces saving his Helmet mounted on a little hill so that all his people might see and behold him perfectly to their great rejoycing For he was a man of no great stature but so formed and decorated with all gifts and lineaments of Nature that hee seemed more an angelicall creature then terrestriall personage his countenance and aspect was cheerefull and couragious his haire yellow like burnished Gold his eyes grey shining and quick prompt and ready in answering but of such sobriety that it could never be judged whether he were more dull then quicke in speaking such was his temperance And when hee had over-looked his Armie over every side hee paused a while and after with a loud voyce and bold spirit spake to his Companions these or like the words following If ever God gave victory to men fighting in a just quarrell Or if he ever aided such as made warre for the wealth and tuition of their owne naturall and nutritive Countrey Or if hee ever succoured them which adventured their lives for the reliefe of innocents suppressing of malefactors and apparent offenders No doubt my fellowes and friends but he of his bountifull goodnesse will this day send us triumphant victory and a lucky journey over our proud enemies and arrogant adversaries For if you remember and consider the very cause of our just quarre you shall apparently perceive the same to be true Godly and vertuous In the which I doubt not but God will rather aide us yea and fight for us then see us vanquished and profligate by such as neither feare him nor his lawes nor yet regard justice or honesty Our cause is so just that no enterprise can bee of more vertue both by the lawes divine and civill for what can be a more honest goodly or godly quarrell then to fight against a captaine being a homicide and murtherer of his owne blood and progeny An extreme destroyer of his nobilitie to his and our countrey and the poore subjects of the same a deadly malle a firebrand and burden untolerable besides him consider who bee of his band and company such as by murther and untruth committed against their owne kindred and linnage yea against their Prince and Soveraigne Lord have disherited mee and you and hath wrongfully detained and usurpe over lawfull patrimony and lineall inheritance For he that calleth himself king keepeth from mee the Crowne and regiment of this noble Realme and Countrey contrary to all justice and equity Likewise his mates and friends occupie your lands cut downe your woods and destroy your mannors letting your wives and children range abroad for their living which persons for their penance and punishment I doubt not but God of his goodnesse will either deliver into our hands as a great gaine and booty or cause them being grieved and compuncted with the pricke of their corrupt consciences cowardly to fly and not abide the battell besides this I assure you that there be yonder in that great battell men brought thither for feare and not for love souldiers by force compelled and not with good will assembled persons which desire rather the destruction then the salvation of their master and captaine and finally a multitude whereof the most part will bee our friends and the least part our enemies For truly I doubt which is greater the malice of the souldiers towards their captaine or the feare of him conceived of his people for surely this rule is infallible that as ill men daily covet to destroy the good so God appointeth the good to confound the ill of al worldly goods the greatest is to suppresse tyrants and relieve innocents whereof the one is ever as much hated as the other is beloved If this bee true as Clerkes preach who will spare yonder tyrant Richard Duke of Gloucester untruely calling himselfe King considering that hee hath violated and broken both the law of God and man what vertue is in him which was the confusion of his brother and murtrerer of his nephewes what mercy is in him that flieth his trusty friends aswell as his extreme enemies Who can have confidence in him which putteth diffidence in all men If you have not read I have heard Clerkes say that Tarquin the proud for the vice of the body lost the Kingdome of Rome and the name of Tarquin banished from the Citie for ever yet was not his fault so detestable as the fact of cruell Nero which slew his owne mother and opened her entralls to behold the place of his conception Behold yonder Richard which is both Tarquin and Nero yea a tyrant more then Nero for he hath not only murthered his Nephewe being his King and soveraigne Lord bastarded his noble brethren and defamed the wombe of his